Mobile, collapsible display device



March 13, 1962 P. J. OTOOLE ETAL 3,024,738

MOBILE, COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 4, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. l

Fig. 2 INVENTORS. Phil J. O'Toole BY Milton H. Maler Buckhorn, Cheafham 8 Blore ATTORNEYS March 13, 1962 P. J. OTOOLE ETAL 3,024,738

MOBILE, COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 4, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll L' j I41 Fig. 3

Fig. 5

INVENTORS. Phil J4 O'Toole Milton H. Mater Buckhorn, Cheafham 8 B/ore ATTORNEYS March 13, 1962 P. J. OTOOLE ETAL 3,024,738

MOBILE, COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 4, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 70 JNV ENTORS.

76 7g 77 79 Phil J. O Too/e ATTORNEYS Buckhorn, Chearham 8 B/ore March 13, 1962 P. J. OTOOLE ETAL MOBILE, COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 4, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 14% @I/ 1/ in Fig. IO

INVENTORS. Phil J. O'Toole By Milton H. Mater Buckhorn, Cheafham 8 B/ore A T TORNEYS 3,024,738 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 Free 3,024,738 MOBILE, COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY DEVECE lhil .l. GToole, 244 N. 2nd St., and Milton H. Mater, R0. Box 410, both of Corvallis, Oreg. Filed Apr. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 100,672 10 Claims. (Cl. 104-44) Our present invention comprises a collapsible display device for vehicles, of such character that a vehicle may be rotatably displayed at an elevation so as to attract attention thereto, and in which means are provided to display advertising material in an attention-a1 resting manner.

The present invention comprises a low base which may be moved about from position to position, and an elevator mounted upon the base, the elevator comprising a deck and power operated elevating means to raise and lower the deck. A low wall fixed to and surrounding the base is arranged to receive therewithin a plurality of sections of a collapsible telescoping skirt which depends from the elevator deck and which automatically forms a stepped, frusto-pyramidal structure when the deck is elevated. Means are provided to support the apparatus on extensible feet when the device is to be used as a means for displaying a vehicle in elevated positon. Upon the deck there is mounted a power operated turntable including a pair of parallel channel members onto which a vehicle may be driven and supported in centrally balanced relation so that the turntable may be rotated without danger.

Preferably the sections of the collapsible skirt comprise translucent panels upon which opaque advertising material may be displayed by interior illumination, and preferably the panels comprise perforated translucent panels. of the peg board type upon which pegged characters may be mounted.

The objects and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood by inspection of the accompanying drawings taken in connection with the following specification, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which a preferred form of the invention is illustrated and described.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a front end view of the display device in condition of use;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the display device;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the display device in collapsed condition ready for movement to a different location;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the display device in condition for use;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; Y

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a front end view of the device in collapsed condition;

FIG. 8 is a partial front view of a portion of the device, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 99 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, showing means for permitting access to the elevator mechanism.

The device comprises a base 10 which is mounted upon four castered wheels 11 whereby the device may be easily moved about, the wheels being preferably resiliently tired so as not to mar display room floors. The frame is preferably formed of heavy structural members welded together so as to be capable of supporting heavy vehicles. An elevator is mounted on the frame, the elevator comprising a heavy welded construction deck 12 and power operated elevating means 13, whereby the deck may be lowered onto the base or lifted to a height above the base, as desired. Extensible jacks 14 are preferably provided at the corners of the base 10 whereby the device may be leveled when in position of use and firmly supported. Suitable means 16 (FIG. 1) are preferably provided at the forward end of the base detachably to secure a drawbar member 17 to the base for towing purposes.

Any suitable power operated elevating means may be provided, the form herein illustrated being a well known type including hydraulic power means. The hydraulic power means comprises an electric motor and pump unit 20 mounted upon the base and adapted to supply fluid under pressure, or withdraw fluid from, to the extent desired in either direction, a cylinder 21 pivotally mounted upon the base. A piston 22 extending from the cylinder is pivotally connected to a pivot block 23 which is pivotally connected to the free ends of a pair of levers 24, the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected to the base. A pair of rigid members 26 are rigidly secured to the block 23 and pivotally connected at their other ends to the deck 12. At each side of the assembly there is mounted an X-frame stabilizer 27, each comprising a pair of rigid bars 28 pivotally connected together at 29 intermediate their lengths. The lower cnd of one of the bars 28 is pivotally connected at 30 to the base, and the upper end of the other bar 28 is pivotally connected at 31 to the deck. The opposite end of each of the bars 28 is provided with a roller (not shown) guided in a longitudinal track (not shown).

A low, four-sided wall 35 is fixedly mounted on the base, the wall being supported by horizontal outrigger members 36 which extend laterally from the ends of the base, the lower edges of the wall 35 being attached to the ends of the outrigger members. The wall 35 completely surrounds the base at a distance therefrom. A collapsible skirt 37 is mounted upon and depends from the deck 12, the skirt comprising a plurality of nesting sections completely surrounding the device, the sections being indicated by the numerals 38, 39*, 40 and 41. The smallest section 41 is attached at its upper edge to a large rectangular plate 42 forming the upper surface of the elevator deck 12. Each skirt section is provided with outwardly projecting flanges 43 at its lower edge and vertically aligned, inwardly projecting flanges 44 at its upper edge, which are adapted to engage each other whereby the sections will be successively raised in depending relation to each other as the elevator deck is raised. The sections are of lesser height than the wall 35 and progressively lesser in dimensions so that they nest within each other, resting upon the members 36, when the deck is lowered.

Each section preferably comprises a rigid surrounding frame 47 mounting translucent panels 48 whereby opaque lettering or insignia on the surfaces of the panels will be rendered readable at night by interior illumination. Such interior illumination is preferably provided by a pair of longitudinally extending fluorescent tubes 49 at the sides of the base, mounted in upwardly facing reflectors 50 (FIG. 6). Preferably each panel 48 is provided with a plurality of closely and regularly spaced perforations 51 for reception of changeable pegged insignia for forming advertising displays. The projections 43 and 44 are preferably limited to corner areas of the sections, so as to leave slots through which the pegged insignia may pass when the elevator deck is being raised or lowered.

When the skirt sections are extended, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4, 6 and 9, they form a complete enclosure for the elevating mechanism. In order that the elevating mechanism may be serviced or repaired, means are pro vided to elevate the skirt sections together with the deck, comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted brackets 55 which depend from the corners of the deck 12 and may be swung laterally, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9, so as to clear the skirt sections. However, when the deck is lowered the brackets 55 may be swung into longitudinally extending positions so as to underlie the movable skirt sections 38, 39 and 49, thereby elevating them in unison with the deck as illustrated in FIG. 10.

In order to display the vehicle to best advantage, a turntable 60 is mounted on the deck. The turntable comprises a central elevated housing portion 61 including a central bearing housing '62 in which there are mounted thrust and rotative bearing means revolvably supporting the turntable upon a central pivot 63 mounted upon the elevator deck. Within the housing '61 there is provided a tapered supporting ring 64 which rests upon a plurality of tapered supporting rollers 65, one of which is driven by a motor and belt and pulley arrangement generally indicated at 66.

The turntable includes a pair of parallel spaced channel members 70 adapted to support a vehicle. The channel members are of sufficient width to accommodate wide or narrow wheel base vehicles. Each channel member is preferably provided at one end with a plurality of slots 71 in which may be engaged claws (not shown) on the ends of channel ramp members 72 which may be detachably secured in position thereby when the elevator deck is lowered in order that a vehicle may be driven up onto the turntable. The ramp channels 72 may be stowed beneath the display device when it is in use, or stowed upon the channel members 70 when it is being moved about. Each channel member is preferably provided with a plurality of longitudinally aligned openings 73 at one end for reception of bolts to fasten adjustable chocks 74 in position for arresting the vehicle when in properly balanced position.

A plurality of vertical supports 76 and 77 rise from the base 10 and engage brace members 78 (FIG. 8) of the turntable when the deck is lowered. Each of the supports 77 is provided with a cam edge 79 which engage portions of the members 78 so as to center the turntable when it is fully lowered. The cam portions 79 are perforated for reception of pins 80 which also engage perforated brackets 81 on the turntable so as to lock the turntable in traveling position.

It is to be appreciated that connectors and cables (not shown) are suitably attached to permit the device to be plugged into a source of power for operation of the electric motors and illumination. Suitable control circuits (not shown) are provided whereby the elevator may be operated at will, and the turntable operated at will, or the turntable may be rotated while the elevator is repeatedly raised and lowered, thereby attracting attention to the display and the vehicle displayed. Exterior flood lights or the like may be mounted upon the device in fixed position or at the end of cables for placement about the device.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, it may be seen that the same permits of modifications in arrangement and detail. All such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the following claims are considered to be a part of our invention.

We claim:

1. A collapsible display device for vehicles comprising a base, an elevator mounted on said base, said elevator comprising a deck and power operated elevating means to raise and lower said deck, a low wall fixed to and surrounding said base, =and a skirt mounted upon and surrounding said deck, said skirt comprising a plurality of telescoping sections adapted to nest within one another and within said wall when said deck is lowered and to form a stepped, frusto-pyramidal enclosure for said elevating means when said deck is elevated.

2. A collapsible display device for vehicles comprising a base, an elevator mounted on said base, said elevator comprising a deck and power operated elevating means to raise and lower said deck, a low wall fixed to and surrounding said base, a skirt mounted upon and surrounding said deck, said skirt comprising a plurality of telescoping sections adapted to nest within one another and within said wall when said deck is lowered and to form a stepped, frusto-pyramidal enclosure for said elevating means when said deck is elevated, and a plurality of lateral supports for said wall attached to the lower edge thereof and to said base, and holding said wall spaced from said base, said skirt sections resting upon said supports within said wall when said deck is lowered.

3. A collapsible display device for vehicles comprising a base, an elevator mounted on said base, said elevator comprising a deck and power operated elevating means to raise and lower said deck, a low wall fixed to and surrounding said base, a skirt mounted upon and surrounding said deck, said skirt comprising a plurality of telescoping sections adapted to nest within one another and within said wall when said deck is lowered and to form a stepped, frusto-pyramidal enclosure for said elevating means when said deck is elevated, and a plurality of lateral supports for said wall attached to the lower edge thereof and to said base, and holding said wall spaced from said base, said skirt sections resting upon said supports within said wall when said deck is lowered, and said skirt sections each having inwardly extending flanges on their upper edges and vertically aligned, outwardly extending flanges on their lower edges for automatically successively raising said skirt sections as said deck is being elevated.

4. A collapsible display device for vehicles comprising a base, an elevator mounted on said base, said elevator comprising a deck and power operated elevating means to raise and lower said deck, a low wall fixed to and surrounding said base, a skirt mounted upon and surrounding said deck, said skirt comprising a plurality of telescoping sections adapted to nest within one another and within said wall when said deck is lowered and to form a stepped, frusto-pyramidal enclosure for said ele- 4O vating means when said deck is elevated, a plurality of lateral supports for said wall attached to the lower edge thereof and to said base, and holding said wall spaced from said base, said skirt sections resting upon said supports within said wall when said deck is lowered, said skirt sections each having inwardly extending flanges on their upper edges and vertically aligned, outwardly extending flanges on their lower edges for automatically successively raising said skirt sections as said deck is being elevated, and a plurality of pivoted brackets on said deck adapted to be swung into position underlying said skirt sections whereby said sikrt sections may all be elevated in nested relation coextensively with said deck in order to allow access to said elevating means. 5. The construction set forth in claim 4 in which said skint sections each comprise translucent panels and illuminating means are mounted on said base to illuminate the interior of said skirt.

6. The construction of claim 4 in which said sections each comprise perforated panels adapted to mount changeable characters.

7. The construction set forth in claim 1 in which each of said sections comprises perforated panels adapted to mount pegged indicia.

8. The construction set forth in claim 1 in which each of said sections comprises translucent perforated panels adapted to mount opaque, pegged indicia.

9. A collapsible display device for vehicles comprising a base, an elevator mounted on said base, said elevator comprising a deck and power operated elevating means to raise and lower said deck, a low wall fixed to and surrounding said base, a skirt mounted upon and surrounding said deck, said skirt comprising a plurality of telescoping sections adapted to nest within one another and within said wall when said deck is lowered and to form a stepped, frusto-pyramidal enclosure for said elevating means when said deck is elevated, and a turntable mounted upon said deck and comprising a pair of channel mem bes onto which a vehicle may be driven.

10. A collapsible display device for vehicles comprising a base, an elevator mounted on said base, said elevator comprising a deck and power operated elevating means to raise and lower said deck, a low wall fixed to and surrounding said base, a skirt mounted upon and surrounding said deck, said skirt comprising a plurality of 10 telescoping sections adapted to nest within one another and within said wall when said deck is lowered and to form a stepped, frusto-pyramidal enclosure for said elevating means when said deck is elevated, a turntable mounted upon said deck and comprising a pair of channel members upon which a vehicle may be supported, and power means on said deck for rotating said turntable.

No references cited. 

